Monday, April 09, 2012

Tuesday: Town hall meeting with Augusta Supervisor David Karaffa

Supervisor David Karaffa (Beverley Manor) has announced he will hold a town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 10, at 7:00 p.m. at the Verona Fire Department on Rt. 11. He will talk with voters about the upcoming budget, the current needs of the county and district, the general reassessment, and other topics, and will be joined by Lee Godfrey, Beverley Manor School Board member, who will have input on schools.

On Wednesday, the Augusta County Board of Supervisors voted 5-2 during a work session to set up a hearing for public input about the possibility of raising taxes to meet budget shortfalls. The proposal would add a 3-cent increase on the real estate tax rate and a 32-cent hike on the personal property tax rate for vehicles.

Chairman Tracy Pyles (Pastures) and Supervisor Marshall Pattie (North River) were the two "no" votes, preferring to use money from the county's savings to cover shortfalls. Because it is a recurring cost, the other supervisors felt they needed to look at the possibility of a tax increase.

With a need for more sheriff's deputies and firefighters, salary increases for teachers who have not received raises in three years, and meeting the Virginia Retirement System contribution mandated by the General Assembly, supervisors have explored various options to make ends meet. For most, a tax increase is a last resort.